Sand In End Caps!

[The Ax]

The only place locally to fly my revs is at one of the state beaches. Each time, I have had problems removing the spreaders from the end caps due to sand (same with the leading edge). Does anyone have a quick fix for this ... aprat from stay away from the beach!! Thanks, Ray

[Jynx]

The only place locally to fly my revs is at one of the state beaches. Each time, I have had problems removing the spreaders from the end caps due to sand (same with the leading edge). Does anyone have a quick fix for this ... aprat from stay away from the beach!! Thanks, Ray

Using one of the upright spars to tap (knock on) the leading-edge end-caps usually loosens the sand enough to twist and remove the cap.

[Reef Runner]

I used the have the same problem. What I do is take a short length (approx 1/4") of surgical tubing, and pull it over the end of the spar. Slide it onto the spar, not quite to where the end cap will reach, then put on the end cap, using the end cap to finish pushing the piece of tubing, as far as it will go, onto the spar. Now, the bungee, on the end caps, will keep the end caps pushed tightly against the piece of surgical tubing, which in turn, will block sand from getting into the gap, between the spars, and the inside of the end caps.

Hope this all makes sense. When I fly on the beach, or on the dunes, I put the tubing on both ends, of the 1/4" leading edges, as well as on the tops and bottoms, of the vertical spars. This actually works better than the factory dust caps, that come on the top end caps.

You can find surgical tubing on eBay, pretty cheap, or maybe at a fishing tackle shop. I have found that the perfect size tubing, for a nice snug fit, is 3/8" outside diameter, with a 3/16" inside diameter. Just chop them up into 1/4" lengths, and put a dozen or so pieces, into a small pill bottle, or other suitable container, and drop them into your kite bag. Make extras, because sometimes the get away from you, when you are initially, putting them onto the spar.

Good Luck................and don't stay away from the beaches, they have the best wind....

[John Barresi]

Using one of the upright spars to tap (knock on) the leading-edge end-caps usually loosens the sand enough to twist and remove the cap.

Aye, a little *thwack-thwack-thwack* seems to work really well for me, same as Jynx describes above.

Other than that, I just lock the fingers of one hand onto the spar, and the other hand onto the cap, then start a small oscillating twist back and forth.

Ever seen those gadgets for opening difficult jars? When you lock your fingers onto the cap or spar, think about how the fingers lock down best.

Using these methods, I've not had a cap I couldn't remove in several years... The ends of the spar get scuffed, but nothing has given out on me yet.

[Reef Runner]

Kitelife, I have tried your wham wham wham, method, but I had no luck with that. The sand, where I was flying (Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head, NC), was just so fine, that it locked up every end cap on the kite. It even got into the joints of the leading edge, and locked them up. I suppose it was unusually fine and dry, this past week, as the humidity was low, but the sun was hot, and the wind howling. I literally couldn't get a vertical spar out of the kite, to wham wham wham, with. I even tried using my kite stake to wham wham wham, but that didn't work either. I finally had to go and get a couple of sets of pliers, wrap the end cap and spar with a rag, to keep from scaring them, and then turn very hard. I was very concerned that I was going to break something, and I still had a really hard time, getting them apart. After that little episode, I put on the pieces of surgical tubing, and I never had another problem, the entire week.

I suppose that size of sand particles, varies from place to place, and can create drastically different situations, as could the frame being used.

In my case, I was using a 4-wrap frame, which theoretically, should present the smallest gap, between the inside of the end cap and the spar. But obviously, the sand I was in, was fine enough to get in, and it really created some genuine havoc for me. Very possibly, a two or three wrap frame, may have left enough space inside of the end cap, for the sand to fall out, but the winds were definitely howling 4-wrap, up on Jockey's Ridge (I believe you are familiar with that place). So, as they say, different strokes for different folks. Not that the wham wham wham approach, won't work in most cases, but after beating them with my stainless steel kite stake, I was afraid that I would break something, for sure.....

[John Barresi]

Gotta go with what works for you, for sure...

Using the right grip and quickly twisting a very small amount back and forth, never fails for me, flown in all sorts of sand, dirt, dust, granules, you name it.

[The Ax]

Gotta go with what works for you, for sure...

Using the right grip and quickly twisting a very small amount back and forth, never fails for me, flown in all sorts of sand, dirt, dust, granules, you name it.

Thanks to all for the advise. I still have one spar that refuses to move, so I will try the "right grip" and a little wham, wham, wham ..... then I will purchase some surgical tubing. It's nice to know that I am not the only one who has this problem. Thanks again. Cheers, Ray

[Reef Runner]

Gotta go with what works for you, for sure...

Using the right grip and quickly twisting a very small amount back and forth, never fails for me, flown in all sorts of sand, dirt, dust, granules, you name it.

Thanks to all for the advise. I still have one spar that refuses to move, so I will try the "right grip" and a little wham, wham, wham ..... then I will purchase some surgical tubing. It's nice to know that I am not the only one who has this problem. Thanks again. Cheers, Ray

Hey Ray, If you are going to try the surgical tubing, here is an illustration (attached below), to show exactly what I meant. Also, on second thought, probably shouldn't remove the factory dust covers, due to wear and tear that may likely occur, between the leading edge spar and sleeve, and the vertical spar, itself. Just slide a piece of surgical tubing up against that end cap, just as you do on the other end caps...........reef

[The Ax]

Thanks Reef Runner .... I was about to head out for some surgical tubing, when I thought I'd check the size you recommended. The diagram does help. Cheers, Ray